The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-10
INDIANA DEMOCRATS.

Ex-Congrsssman Ward Points Out Some
Causes of Party Dissension.
Washington Special to Cincinnati Enquirer.
''Well, Judge. how did you find the political
armament in Indiana|
II should say it rather murky. though
there are no storms Immediately impending, as
we hold no general elections this year
Several of your Indiana colleagues in Con-
gress have represented to the President in con-
versation with him, that the administration is
exceedingly popular with the Democrats of your
State, and that the outlook for next year is I'M
commonly good. Do you concur in that opinionp
was asked.
II very much regret to say that am not at
all able to concur in that opinion" answered
Judge Ward. "If the election for President
were to be held this year I greatly fear we
should lose the State. should be very sorry,
however. to have any one infer that the wish
is father to the thought TO / think the
present administration is the best, the ablesr
and the purest which the country has had since
the death of Lincoln. L sincerely hope that
President Cleveland may be renominated and
reelected But think it a matter greatly to be
deplored that intelligent and influential gentle
men should represent to the President that the
present political status of Indiana is favorable
to the Democrats, and especially that there
is little or no dissatisfaction with the
administration. There is great deal
of dissatisfaction, and it ought to be palpable
and manifest to any one who chooses to and
hear And it will not do to say that this dis
content is confined to the Office seekers. If it
were confined to them it would still be dan
gerous and important factor in the political
problem because a large majority of the people
OF Indiana want Office. ANY man who could get
all the votes of the Indianians who want Office
would sweep the State But mean to say,
riously. that among the active working Demo-
polls and drum up the voters, there is manifested
a discomfort, and an apathy worse than dscon-
tent, which bode no good result to our party.
The burden of the complaint Is that such an
army of Republicans are retained in Office. If
you remind these men that q chief plank in the
Chicago platform was civil service reform, they
answer that the battle cry of the campaign was
Turn the rascals out and this is what they
understood was meant by civil service reform.
They insist that Indiana has been unfairly
treated in the distribution of Offices which carry
with them patronage-especially in view of the
fact that she is the only Western State
which has cast her electoral vote
for Democrat since 1856-and they are utterly
unable to appreciate the policy OF giving such
hoplessly Republican States az Illinois, Iowa
and Michigan the i'm portant and patrouage-car-
rying positions OF Commissioner of Pensions,
Commissioner OF Patents, Commissioner of the
Land Office. ETC. They are especially bitter be-
cause Of the retention of many Republicans
in the railway mail service. These positions
they claim, have been used and abused by the
Republican party and most effectuallv, for
partisan purposes for twenty five years
''At Jeffersonville, ia Clark county" continued
Judge Waro, Inc democrats are nlghly IN
censed because the government quartermaster's
depot there, which employs large force is
filled almost exclusively with Republican en-
ployes. A very Intelligent and prominent Demo
cratic politician, of Jeffersonvile, told me that
Clark county, heretofore one of the most reliable
Democratic counties in the State would go Re-
publican il the election was held this year.
These some of the of discomfort
among the Democrats of Indiana. I am not ex-
pressing my personal sentiment in the premises,
but giving you the facts as / found them do
not think it either politically wise fair to
conceal from tho President these facts"